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RECRUITING: Texas A&M felt "like home" for Village School's Jada Malone
HOUSTON - Since the fifth grade, Jada Malone has been accustomed to making the two hour trek up to College Station and settling into a seat inside Reed Arena to take in a Texas A&M women's basketball game.
Here first experience came when her older sister Micarah was going through her recruiting process. At the time, Micarah was being recruiting by Lamar and McNeese State but her father wanted to give her what a big college feel would be like. A few years later, Jada's cousin Courtney Williams suited up for the Aggies for four years.
Malone has always been around the Aggie women's basketball program. Now, she will be a part of it.
"It's felt like home for a long time," Malone told VYPE in a text. "I've been around the program since the fifth grade. I decided I wanted to stay close so I could play in front of family and have the chance to compete for a National Championship."
This past season, Malone helped guide The Village School to the TAPPS 6A Women's Basketball State Championship and was named the VYPE Private School Player of the Year.
Malone is the No.34-ranked player in the 2021 ESPN Hoopgurlz rankings.The Aggies signed three players out of ESPN's Top 100 for the 2020 recruiting class, including Summer Creek's Maliyah Johnson.
.@AggieWBB fans check out the newest commit to the Class of 2021 ... @JadaBball23 of @Villageteams | No. 36 recruit in country for 2021 | #GigEm @KPRC2RandyMc @CoachBrotherton @TimiCriswell11 @DunkingBeauty @emilydogbatse @CoachAJohnson @TexAgs @aggies pic.twitter.com/tXxRFCTHWP
— vypehouston (@vypehouston) April 22, 2020
Texas A&M is led by legendary coach Gary Blair.
Blair has led the Aggies to 14-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including winning the 2011 National Championship, since taking over the program in 2003.
"I've always been impressed with the way Coach Blair interacts with people," Malone said. "It let me know the way he would treat me. He's very personable, knowledgeable and has a lot of insight into everything."
With her junior season behind her and senior season on the horizon, Malone said she has had a lot of time to evaluate all the schools that had offered her, hence why she made her decision now.
As mentioned earlier, next year will mark the 10-year anniversary of the Aggies winning the national title, which is what Malone wants to help bring back to College Station.
"I believe it's very important to bring the national title back home to A&M because it's been too long," Malone said. "The A&M coaches want to experience another national title and so do I."
.@JadaBball23 commitment video announcement. Nice get for the Aggies. @Villageteams @TAPPSbasketball pic.twitter.com/b22qU3tmig
— vypehouston (@vypehouston) April 22, 2020
RECRUITING: Foster's Fatheree II names Top 9, visits Oklahoma State
HOUSTON - Reuben "Deuce" Fatheree II could be one of the more interesting recruits for the Class of 2021.
Fatheree II is listed as a four-star offensive lineman prospect by 24/7 Sports but the 6-foot-8 junior is also a force on the basketball court - leading Foster with 16 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in 32 contests this past year.
Colleges have taken notice of his skill on both the gridiron and the basketball court and have been recruiting him as a dual-sport athlete.
"It's a blessing and I really appreciate them giving me the opportunity to play both," Fatheree II told VYPE. "I will see how my body holds up after the football grind."
Fatheree II recently released his Top 9, which included Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas and Baylor.
"I was very exited to get it out," Fatheree II said about his Top 9. "I wanted to let those know who I was definitely interested in."
Since releasing his top schools, Fatheree II visited Oklahoma State.
"I'm glad we made the trip, it's a special place and with them giving me the opportunity to play both is awesome," Fatheree II said about his visit to OSU. "My favorite part was the academic support and how hard they work to make sure there athletes are taking care of their grades."
Appreciate Coach Boynton for taking the time to visit with us while at OSU! Best of luck in the Big XII tournament! pic.twitter.com/ATy9Zb1Glj
— Lorraine fatheree (@lexeedeucee) March 10, 2020
Fatheree II the next day visited Lincoln Reily and the Oklahoma Sooners. The junior doesn't have any other visits set up at this time but could take an unofficial visit to LSU at some point.
Fatheree is one of the more interesting dual-sport athletes going into the 2021 recruiting cycle. The biggest question will be if he will decide to play both sports at the next level.
Deuce has a great time watching OU spring practice. Several current and future NFL players were there. Thanks to coach Riley and Annie Hanson for a great visit! pic.twitter.com/bTlc5gtqdi
— Lorraine fatheree (@lexeedeucee) March 11, 2020